Truth commission readies its final report _ Bangkok Post_ opinion

Published: 17/09/2012 at 10:28 AM
Newspaper section: News
Truth commission readies its final
report
THINK PRAGMATIC
Unless there is an abrupt change of schedule, the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT) will today release its final report
on the political protests by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, the red shirts, during April and May 2010 which descended
into violence and a military crackdown, leaving 92 people dead, including two protesters in Udon Thani and one in Khon Kaen.
Manop Charnchangthong, 48, at a press conference in January last year at the Department of Special Investigation. Presented as one of the men
in black, the arrested red shirt activist denied harming soldiers on April 10, 2010 during the battles at Kok Wua intersection.
Among the 89 dead in Bangkok were at least six soldiers, the most prominent one being Col Romklao Thuwatham who was killed while
attempting to contain a mob of red-shirt protesters at Kok Wua intersection on April 10.
There have been expectations that this final report by the TRCT will help shed light on several aspects of the political violence which
remain a mystery, particularly about the "men in black" in the midst of the protesters and who were held accountable for most of the
violence perpetrated on April 10 at Kok Wua intersection and Din Sor Road, during May 14-18 at Lumpini park, Bon Kai and on Rama IV
Road and at Wat Pathum Wanaram on May 19.
TRCT chairman Kanit na Nakorn earlier said he was not concerned about his own safety if his findings antagonise any party because he is
simply doing the job asked of him - which is to find out the truth about the events - and also because he had already passed the point of
being afraid. He disclosed that there were threats to set fire to his house after he volunteered as a witness to bail out some red-shirt
leaders.
According to sources, the final report contains altogether 516 pages, divided into five sections with the most important being Section Two
which sums up all the violent incidents and also the role of the "men in black".
The report, said the sources, faults both sides in the conflict _ the military on the one hand and some red-shirt leaders and "men in black"
on the other hand _ for being responsible for the violence. In contrast with the assertion of the Department of Special Investigation led by
the "born again" Tarit Pengdit that the "men in black" were non-existent, or the claim by the UDD's legal counsellor, Robert Amsterdam &
Peroff LPS law firm, that the "men in black" were specialists or agent provocateurs assembled by the military to justify its crackdown on the
protesters, the TRCT's report chronicled violent events in which the "men in black" were involved.
They included the clashes at Kok Wua and Democracy Monument on April 10 between troops and protesters in which one "man in black"
was seen brandishing an M79 grenade launcher and another holding an AK47 assault rifle. The "men in black" were also involved in an
armed clash with security forces at Lumpini park on May 19.
Truth commission readies its final report | Bangkok Post: opinion 1 of 2
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/312672/truth-commission-readies-its-final-report
About the author
Writer: Veera Prateepchaikul
Position: Former Editor
The findings confirmed that security forces used live ammunition in the crackdown on the protesters which went against the military
assertion that only blank cartridges were used. For example, on April 10, security forces were issued with live ammunition.
Regarding the assassination of Maj-Gen Khatiya Sawatdiphol _ alias Seh Daeng _ the report concluded that it was very likely he was killed
by security forces as they were trying to recapture the territory seized by the red-shirt protesters.
As for the six deaths at Wat Pathum Wanaram which the red shirts blamed on army snipers, the TRCT report said seven troopers were
deployed on the BTS track in front of the temple and another five on the track at Siam Centre shopping mall _ and all of them were armed
with M16 rifles with live ammunition.
The findings assert the troops aimed their guns and shot in the direction of the temple as they exchanged fire with "men in black" in the
temple.
Some red-shirt leaders were also faulted by the TRCT for instigating the protesters to set fire to buildings in Bangkok and in upcountry
provinces.
The report dismisses claims by the red shirts that troops were responsible for the torching of CentralWorld shopping mall on May 19.
In an earlier interview, Mr Kanit insisted that the major task of his commission was not to bring the wrongdoers to justice but to find out the
truth about the events during the April-May 2010 protests so the public will be informed in order to ensure that incidents of this kind are not
repeated.
He said all information collected by his commission was willingly provided by those involved in the events.
"We do not have any authority to force anyone to come forward to offer us the information.
"They offered the information in full cooperation and willingly," he said.
The TRCT's final report will certainly upset many people in the military and the UDD.
But there are no other choices for the commission except to do its job as required in a straightforward manner to set the record straight
once and for all. In which case, Mr Kanit deserves a standing ovation for a job well done.
He has proven right an old Thai saying: "Truth is permanent".
Hopefully, the TRCT report should serve as a mirror for all those involved in the political conflict to take a look at themselves, to reflect on
their past deeds and to make amends not only to prevent such a tragedy from being repeated but also for the sake of reconciliation.
Veera Prateepchaikul is a former editor, Bangkok Post.
Truth commission readies its final report | Bangkok Post: opinion 2 of 2
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/312672/truth-commission-readies-its-final-report

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Published: 17/09/2012 at 10:28 AM
Newspaper section: News
Truth commission readies its final
report
THINK PRAGMATIC
Unless there is an abrupt change of schedule, the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT) will today release its final report
on the political protests by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, the red shirts, during April and May 2010 which descended
into violence and a military crackdown, leaving 92 people dead, including two protesters in Udon Thani and one in Khon Kaen.
Manop Charnchangthong, 48, at a press conference in January last year at the Department of Special Investigation. Presented as one of the men
in black, the arrested red shirt activist denied harming soldiers on April 10, 2010 during the battles at Kok Wua intersection.
Among the 89 dead in Bangkok were at least six soldiers, the most prominent one being Col Romklao Thuwatham who was killed while
attempting to contain a mob of red-shirt protesters at Kok Wua intersection on April 10.
There have been expectations that this final report by the TRCT will help shed light on several aspects of the political violence which
remain a mystery, particularly about the "men in black" in the midst of the protesters and who were held accountable for most of the
violence perpetrated on April 10 at Kok Wua intersection and Din Sor Road, during May 14-18 at Lumpini park, Bon Kai and on Rama IV
Road and at Wat Pathum Wanaram on May 19.
TRCT chairman Kanit na Nakorn earlier said he was not concerned about his own safety if his findings antagonise any party because he is
simply doing the job asked of him - which is to find out the truth about the events - and also because he had already passed the point of
being afraid. He disclosed that there were threats to set fire to his house after he volunteered as a witness to bail out some red-shirt
leaders.
According to sources, the final report contains altogether 516 pages, divided into five sections with the most important being Section Two
which sums up all the violent incidents and also the role of the "men in black".
The report, said the sources, faults both sides in the conflict _ the military on the one hand and some red-shirt leaders and "men in black"
on the other hand _ for being responsible for the violence. In contrast with the assertion of the Department of Special Investigation led by
the "born again" Tarit Pengdit that the "men in black" were non-existent, or the claim by the UDD's legal counsellor, Robert Amsterdam &
Peroff LPS law firm, that the "men in black" were specialists or agent provocateurs assembled by the military to justify its crackdown on the
protesters, the TRCT's report chronicled violent events in which the "men in black" were involved.
They included the clashes at Kok Wua and Democracy Monument on April 10 between troops and protesters in which one "man in black"
was seen brandishing an M79 grenade launcher and another holding an AK47 assault rifle. The "men in black" were also involved in an
armed clash with security forces at Lumpini park on May 19.
Truth commission readies its final report | Bangkok Post: opinion 1 of 2
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/312672/truth-commission-readies-its-final-report
About the author
Writer: Veera Prateepchaikul
Position: Former Editor
The findings confirmed that security forces used live ammunition in the crackdown on the protesters which went against the military
assertion that only blank cartridges were used. For example, on April 10, security forces were issued with live ammunition.
Regarding the assassination of Maj-Gen Khatiya Sawatdiphol _ alias Seh Daeng _ the report concluded that it was very likely he was killed
by security forces as they were trying to recapture the territory seized by the red-shirt protesters.
As for the six deaths at Wat Pathum Wanaram which the red shirts blamed on army snipers, the TRCT report said seven troopers were
deployed on the BTS track in front of the temple and another five on the track at Siam Centre shopping mall _ and all of them were armed
with M16 rifles with live ammunition.
The findings assert the troops aimed their guns and shot in the direction of the temple as they exchanged fire with "men in black" in the
temple.
Some red-shirt leaders were also faulted by the TRCT for instigating the protesters to set fire to buildings in Bangkok and in upcountry
provinces.
The report dismisses claims by the red shirts that troops were responsible for the torching of CentralWorld shopping mall on May 19.
In an earlier interview, Mr Kanit insisted that the major task of his commission was not to bring the wrongdoers to justice but to find out the
truth about the events during the April-May 2010 protests so the public will be informed in order to ensure that incidents of this kind are not
repeated.
He said all information collected by his commission was willingly provided by those involved in the events.
"We do not have any authority to force anyone to come forward to offer us the information.
"They offered the information in full cooperation and willingly," he said.
The TRCT's final report will certainly upset many people in the military and the UDD.
But there are no other choices for the commission except to do its job as required in a straightforward manner to set the record straight
once and for all. In which case, Mr Kanit deserves a standing ovation for a job well done.
He has proven right an old Thai saying: "Truth is permanent".
Hopefully, the TRCT report should serve as a mirror for all those involved in the political conflict to take a look at themselves, to reflect on
their past deeds and to make amends not only to prevent such a tragedy from being repeated but also for the sake of reconciliation.
Veera Prateepchaikul is a former editor, Bangkok Post.
Truth commission readies its final report | Bangkok Post: opinion 2 of 2
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/312672/truth-commission-readies-its-final-report